Improvement in self-rocking cradles



' Nrrnn S'IAfrns PATENT CARL HOLTZ, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H. VORNBROGK,

` OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT iN SELF-ROCKING CRADLES.

Specication'forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,247, dated May 27, 1873; application died November 15, 1872.

' To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CARL HoLrz, of St. Louis, county of St'. Louis and State of Missouri, have made a certain new and useful Improved Self-Rocking Cradle; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and true description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of this invention consists chiefly in a peculiar combination of spring and gearing devices, automatically operated like clockwork, so as to operate a crank or wheel and arm, to actuate the cradle proper, and impart thereto the required oscillating movement. y

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my said improvements, I will now more fully describe the same, referring to- Figure l as a side elevation; to Fig. 2 as a face elevation, showing mechanism contained in part of the standard of cradle-frame; Fig. 3 being a sectional elevation through same parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. sibeing a detail plan of angle-braces uniting corners of cradle; and to Fig. 5 as'a detail elevation of side of cradle, showing adjustability of the connecting-arm.

A represents the cradle-frame, consisting of the standards a al, formed with spreading legs, and connected aslusual. Bis the cradle proper. The cradle B, as well as its supporting-frame A, can be of any desired ornamental design. The top of the cradle sides I provide with pivot-bearings b, in which are dtted to turn the respective pivots b', which are provided near top of the standards a al of cradle-frame, as shown in Fig. 1. The cradle B is thus sufficiently supported in the cradleframe A, in a pivoted manner, so as to be rocked with the greatest ease. In order that the rocking of the cradle can-be automatically performed, l have provided the standard a with the following clock-work: The standard a is first suitably mortised or hollowed to contain the greater part of the mechanism; therefore, within the hollow of the standard a is arranged a suitable coilspring, C, one end of which is secured to the i key-shaft c, the other end being properly secured to said standard. The shank of the key-shaft c projects outside of the standard a, while the inner end of said shaft is supported to turn in a transverse bracket, l?, which is secured to standard a. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The key-shaft c carries a circular plate, d, the object of which is to retain the coil-spring O in operative position, d1 being a plate secured to the face of standard a for the same purpose. Alongside of the circular plated (or shaft c) is a ratchet-wheel, d2; engaging said ratchet-wheel is a pawl, cl3, which is pressed down for this purpose by a spring, d4, both said pawl and spring being secured to the main spurgear wheel E, clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The operator, by means of a suitable key, turns the shaft c and winds the spring C, which acts as a motor to the spurgear E. The rotary'rnotion thus achieved is communicated by the gear-wheel E to a pinion, e, and center spur-gear E', which are on shaft c1, arranged to turn in a vertical bracket, F, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The rotary motion thus achieved is further communicated by the center spur-gear E to a pinion, c2, which is on the upper shaft c3; said shaft having its journals supported to turn in the bracket F, and the standard part a2. (See dotted lines, Fig. l.) The clockwork mechanism is thus supported and contained in the standard a., while the additional standard part a2 is provided and suitably mortised as to entirely incase said mechanism from view. Io convert the rotary motion achieved to the required oscillating movement to operate the cradle B, the top shaft c3 is provided with a wheel or crank, G, and

this connected by au arm, g, to the side of the cradle. (See Figs. 1 and 5.) Further, to regulate the rocking motion of the cradle, the arm g has a series of holes, g', so as to be adjustably secured to various holes with which the side of the cradle is provided. (See Fig. 5.) A greater or less oscillation of the cradle is thus achieved. The wheel-work will run a long time, and after starting requires no attention. The corners of the cradle B are united by an angle-brace, H, and secured by .screws h. rlhe object of thus secnrin g the corners of the cradle is to obviate the necesand described, standard parts a al a2, anglebraces H, and pivoted cradle-15,311 constructed and arranged to operate as set forth.

In testimony of said invention I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL HOLTZ. Witnesses WILLIAM W. HERTEL, CHARLES MEISNER. 

